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HR20 Quality

When I got my DTV, I came with an H20 (not an HR20). I had OTA HD/analog cable before that. I noticed that the quality of the H20 was considerably lower than my previous setup. HD got blocky and hard too watch with any motion. SD looked like it was Lego-mation (I just made that up, but you get the idea). I assumed it was the DTV service. I almost canceled it.

Luckily I had purchased an HR10-250 on e-bay. It had a much better SD and HD picture via HDMI. I sent the H20 back and purchased another HR10.

Now that DTV is rolling out more AVC channels, I'm considering an HR20. I have a couple of friends with HR20-700(?) and they appear to have the same blockiness I noticed with my H20.

First, does anybody have an HR10 and HR20 and notice this? Nobody seems to mention it. Is it just me?

Second, is it just the HDMI connection? I've now seen several HR20's hooked up with HDMI and they all get really blocky with any quick motion. This is consistent with both the MPG2 and MPG4 channels, so I assume it's not the feed. Still/low motion video looks very good.

There's absolutely no technical reason whatsoever that there should be any difference between the two, especially on the HDMI outputs.

HDMI is fully digital. It's ones and zeros. There can't be any difference unless something is wrong with the unit.

The decoding algorithm for MPEG2 (and MPEG4, for that matter) is 100% deterministic. You take the MPEG(2,4) bitstream and run it through the decoding algorithm and a digital result, ones and zeros, comes out. This result can't vary from one model to another.

Ones and zeros come out of the HDMI output of the box. If there's no defect, there can't be any difference.

There is one caveat: Subtleties in timing differences can cause compatibility issues with a very small number of TV's, that may not be the same from model to model of set top box. However, what you describe sounds like an outright defect.

You may be right about the breathing room. I literally burnt myself on my H20. It runs much hotter than my HR10. Maybe it was just overheating.

I'm really liking the look of the HR20-100. Maybe I'll get one of those...

If you did, then you have/had the H20-600 which does run hot & needs all the air flow it can get. The "upside" to that unit is a very good OTA, that none of the other H series has.All of the other H series runs cooler.

There's absolutely no technical reason whatsoever that there should be any difference between the two, especially on the HDMI outputs.

HDMI is fully digital. It's ones and zeros. There can't be any difference unless something is wrong with the unit.

The decoding algorithm for MPEG2 (and MPEG4, for that matter) is 100% deterministic. You take the MPEG(2,4) bitstream and run it through the decoding algorithm and a digital result, ones and zeros, comes out. This result can't vary from one model to another.

Ones and zeros come out of the HDMI output of the box. If there's no defect, there can't be any difference.

There is one caveat: Subtleties in timing differences can cause compatibility issues with a very small number of TV's, that may not be the same from model to model of set top box. However, what you describe sounds like an outright defect.

I have to beg to differ on your decoder comment. There is a huge difference in quality between decoders. Although the MPG2 algorithm is a standard, most decoders implement post processing filters to do things like blend in jagged edges and deinterlace. Even my TV has an MPG "noise" filter with 3 different settings.

As for the differences in units, I'll take everyone's word that they are the same.

If you did, then you have/had the H20-600 which does run hot & needs all the air flow it can get. The "upside" to that unit is a very good OTA, that none of the other H series has.All of the other H series runs cooler.

This must have been what I had. The OTA was incredible, even better than my TV. My HR10-250 OTA sucks (my only complaint about the unit). I didn't realize there were so many Hx20-x models.

If you did, then you have/had the H20-600 which does run hot & needs all the air flow it can get. The "upside" to that unit is a very good OTA, that none of the other H series has.All of the other H series runs cooler.

I have to beg to differ on your decoder comment. There is a huge difference in quality between decoders. Although the MPG2 algorithm is a standard, most decoders implement post processing filters to do things like blend in jagged edges and deinterlace. Even my TV has an MPG "noise" filter with 3 different settings.

As for the differences in units, I'll take everyone's word that they are the same.

The operative words in your description are "post processing".

"Post" what? Post decoding!

The 3 different filter settings on your TV have nothing whatsoever to do with the MPEG decoding which is deterministic. Those filters come after the decoding.

There is NO post processing (filtering) on the UDMI output. On the various analog outputs (Component, Svideo, composite), there very likely is. Low pass filtering, anyway.

The 3 different filter settings on your TV have nothing whatsoever to do with the MPEG decoding which is deterministic. Those filters come after the decoding.

There is NO post processing (filtering) on the UDMI output. On the various analog outputs (Component, Svideo, composite), there very likely is. Low pass filtering, anyway.

I think in essence were are agreeing. I agree that the post processor mentioned only works on TS streams, not the HDMI input from my DVR. I am curious as to whether or not TV's are smart enough to telecide 1080i video down to the 1080p24fps it usually is (I'm taking this thread to Cuba).

I still stand fast on the notion the all decoders (I'm including post processors built into them) are not equal. For example, the Pure Video decoder (and it's post processor) on my PC is hands down better than the one in VLC.